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West Pittston twins Ryan and Michael Murphy are each other’s biggest competition, but they are also each other’s best friends.

The 17-year-old brothers compete in high school soccer, track and field and swimming. They also go head-to-head in academic competitions including Scholastic Scrimmage, Science Olympiad and Envirothon.

When the two aren’t competing, they are working together as president and vice president of the Key Club service organization at Wyoming Area High School.

“We really push each other in all of the things that we do,” Michael said. “I really think that at the end of the day it makes us better at the things we participate in.”

“It’s funny, like, if he starts doing an essay or something then I feel like I have to start doing it,” Ryan said. “Like Michael said, it’s for the best. It’s pretty funny going into a track race and we’re in the same heat. I think in the back of our heads we’re both like, ‘Who’s going to win?’”

Mary Ann Murphy, mother of the twins, said she made a point to never push her sons into anything, but let them choose what to participate in and how active they are in each activity.

“I never ever put any pressure on them,” she said. “Individuality is important, but it’s just like best friends, probably. They are just attracted to the same things or driven to the same activities.”

Luckily for Ryan and Michael, they had friends and teachers in school that influenced them to pursue certain academic activities at an early age. They started in youth sports at a young age, were accepted into academic clubs in seventh grade and joined Key Club in ninth grade.

Their mother said the two would watch every sports practice of their older brother, Chris Murphy, 22, when they were young, from football to basketball to baseball. When the boys didn’t pursue these sports, Mary Ann said it was “a pleasant surprise” to see them carving their own paths.

“I don’t have to be like him, I just happen to be like him,” Ryan said about Michael. “That’s something I think people should realize about twins. Sometimes they’re different, sometimes they’re the same and just by chance we’re pretty similar.”

Although the brothers are pitted against each other in many of their activities, they most fondly remember times when they were able to work together.

Ryan mentioned the annual district convention for Key Clubs around the country, in which the Wyoming Area Key Club received several awards for their philanthropic work.

Being involved in many different activities and sports has not been a detriment to the Murphy twins, but rather influenced them in a positive way, from being encouraged to work as a team to understanding that trying is more important than succeeding.

“I think sports have given me the best mentality about my school work, actually,” Ryan said. “Youth sports, you’re always taught to do your best and never give up. That’s sort of my mentality about school too. Tests are really the same as a game. You practice and practice until you have your moment to put out everything you’ve worked for.”

Looking ahead, both Ryan and Michael said they are considering careers in the medical field but are keeping an open mind. They are unsure whether they will attend the same college, but are hoping to stay together because, as Michael said, “We get along very well, so why not?”

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